Dai Mubai's Humiliation! Zhu Zhuqing's Offering

"Brother Tang Yuan!"

Xue Qinghe wore a perfectly measured smile—warm, enthusiastic, even carrying a hint of ingratiation.

He did not address him as the Blue Silver King, but as brother.

Even a fool could hear the intent to win him over.

Tang Yuan reined in his horse and looked down at this "Crown Prince."

"Your Highness."

Tang Yuan replied flatly, with no intention of dismounting.

Xue Qinghe did not mind in the slightest. Instead, he stepped closer and even reached out as though to steady Tang Yuan's stirrup.

After receiving a glare from Xiao Wu beside Tang Yuan, he withdrew his hand with a chuckle.

"In this battle, Brother Tang Yuan has displayed the Heaven Dou Empire's might of a century!"

"Father has been so delighted in the Imperial Study that he has barely slept for days, saying you are a prodigy bestowed upon Heaven Dou by the heavens."

"I, too, admire you beyond measure."

"In the future, the realm of the Heaven Dou Empire will still need Brother Tang Yuan, this jade pillar holding up the heavens, to support it."

Xue Qinghe's words were beautifully phrased, and he had lowered his stance considerably.

He knew very well that Tang Yuan was no longer someone anyone could suppress.

Since he could not be suppressed, he had to be elevated.

The higher, the better.

Tang Yuan swung down from his horse, his combat boots striking the stone slabs with a crisp sound.

"Your Highness flatters me."

"I merely killed a few blind fools."

Tang Yuan casually tossed his riding crop to Xiao Wu beside him and strode toward the great hall.

The officials on both sides dropped to their knees in perfect unison, like wheat flattened by the wind.

"Welcome the triumphant return of His Highness the Blue Silver King—!"

Their voices shook the heavens.

Tai Chi Hall.

Emperor Xue Ye sat upon the throne, and as he watched Tang Yuan enter, the muscles at the corners of his eyes twitched faintly. But he quickly put on the smile of a benevolent father.

A seat had long been prepared for him on the left side of the hall.

It was an honor reserved for him alone; not even Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi received such treatment.

"Announce the arrival of the Star Luo Empire Delegation—"

The eunuch's shrill voice echoed through the hall.

The light at the entrance dimmed.

A group of people slowly entered.

At the very front was a young man with golden hair.

Dai Mubai.

He wore a white formal suit. Though it fit well, it seemed somewhat loose on him.

His complexion was poor, with obvious dark circles beneath his eyes and little color in his lips.

With every step, his feet dragged against the floor as if they weighed a thousand catties.

Behind him followed two women.

The one on the left appeared somewhat older. Her figure was explosively voluptuous, and the black skintight leather outfit she wore traced breathtaking curves. Her face carried the ashen resignation of someone who had accepted her fate.

That was Zhu Zhuyun.

The one on the right was still young, but her development was anything but lacking. She wore the same black leather outfit and kept her head lowered, both hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly as her body trembled faintly.

Zhu Zhuqing.

These had once been the Star Luo Empire's most noble prince and prospective imperial consorts.

Yet now, they were like lambs awaiting slaughter, delivered onto the butcher's block.

The Heaven Dou officials within the hall openly swept their gazes over the man and two women, their eyes filled with mockery and ridicule.

In the past, the Star Luo Empire had relied on its powerful military to bully Heaven Dou time and again.

Now that the tables had turned, seeing the once-arrogant Star Luo Prince in such a state brought them indescribable satisfaction.

Dai Mubai walked to the center of the hall.

He looked at the silver-armored youth seated above.

With just one glance, he felt as though someone had viciously clenched his heart.

The fear rising from the depths of his soul made his calves cramp.

"Chief Envoy of the Star Luo Empire Delegation, Dai Mubai."

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty the Emperor of Heaven Dou, and to... His Highness the Blue Silver King."

Dai Mubai's voice was dry and hoarse.

Thud.

He dropped to his knees.

With that kneel, he shattered both the dignity of a prince and the backbone of a man.

Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing behind him knelt as well.

Emperor Xue Ye stroked his beard, in an excellent mood.

"No need for such ceremony."

"Since you are here to negotiate peace, tell us what sincerity Star Luo has to offer."

Dai Mubai tremblingly pulled a letter of surrender from his robes and raised it above his head with both hands.

"The Star Luo Empire is willing to cede three thousand li of land south of Zhennan Pass, compensate five million Gold Soul Coins, three refined iron ore veins, ten carts of medicinal herbs..."

As Dai Mubai read out each figure, sharp intakes of breath echoed throughout the hall.

This was not cutting flesh—it was practically bleeding themselves dry!

After reading all that, Dai Mubai paused.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat trickled down his face onto the carpet.

What came next was what humiliated him most.

It was also the absolute order his imperial father had given him before he departed.

"Additionally..."

Dai Mubai's voice trembled.

"To demonstrate the sincerity of friendship between our two nations."

"The Star Luo Imperial Family is willing to present two direct daughters of the Zhu Family."

"Zhu Zhuyun. Zhu Zhuqing."

"These two women shall attend His Highness the Blue Silver King at his side as servants, pouring tea and fetching water."

Dead silence.

The entire hall fell into a deathly hush.

Then, a burst of uproarious laughter erupted.

"HAHAHA! Did I hear that right? Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing?"

"Aren't they the fiancées of Star Luo's First Prince and Second Prince?"

"Oh my, they're just giving them away now?"

"The Star Luo Imperial Family really is... generous!"

"Isn't Dai Mubai Zhu Zhuqing's fiancé? How does he have the nerve to say that himself?"

Those piercing remarks were like slaps, striking Dai Mubai's face again and again.

His face flushed liver-red. His fists pressed fiercely against the ground, his knuckles whitening from the force.

Humiliation.

Humiliation unlike anything he had ever suffered.

Yet he did not dare raise his head, much less argue back.

Because the young man seated above was looking at the two women behind him as if appraising merchandise.

Tang Yuan held a cup of tea in his hand and lightly skimmed away the tea leaves floating on top.

His gaze passed over Dai Mubai and landed on the Zhu sisters kneeling behind him.

Feeling that gaze, Zhu Zhuyun's body stiffened, and she lowered her head even further.

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, yet she stubbornly held them back.

Tang Yuan's gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment.

Especially the curves outlined by their tight leather outfits, and those pairs of long legs that remained impossible to hide even while kneeling.

It had to be said, the Zhu Family of Star Luo had some truly fine genes.

And stealing someone else's fiancée... that feeling...

Seemed rather interesting.

"Not bad."

Tang Yuan set down his teacup with a soft clink.

Those two words rang clearly in everyone's ears.

Dai Mubai's body suddenly trembled.

"Since it is Star Luo Great Emperor's kind gesture."

Tang Yuan leaned back in his chair, his tone languid.

"Then I'll accept it."

"The King's Mansion happens to be short two maids to warm the bed."

"As for the rest of the land and money, Your Majesty may handle them as you see fit."